Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen

This isn't a story about Barbie, despite what the title's implications. This is, instead, a tale about the people who were instrumental in creating both the doll and her mystique. Often, people will refer to Ruth Handler but this book also covers her husband, Elliot and her children as well as coworkers Jack Ryan  (enineer), and Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein (fashion designers.)

The story revolves around each, a third person narrator who flips past each person, letting us know what each is thinking and feeling as the idea of an adult doll sparks, then builds, feels like failure, and then skyrockets. Then, as the partnerships start to fall apart.

This is very much a fiction story but reads like narrative nonfiction. An interesting look at the history of all of these people with a lot of research put into it.

Four stars

This book came out January 21, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Vengeance in Venice by Erica Ruth Neubauer

 Jane and Redvers are on their honeymoon and enjoying their time alone. Except they're not as alone as they used to be since Aunt Millie has not only found them in Italy, she's insisting that they attend a party with her. 

The soiree is being thrown by Clara, an heiress to the Morton salt company. She's eccentric and rude and Jane is stymied as to how she is a friend of Millie's. It's equally strange that this particular get-together includes a murder, that of Clara's second ex-husband, an Italian poet. The police immediately latch onto Clara's secretary, a woman Jane has met before. 

The search for the killer will introduce Jane to a new kind of detective (inspettore) and cause her to question whether she is at good at reading people as she thinks she is. 

Four stars

Jane Wunderly #5

This book comes out March 31, 2026

Follows Homicide in the Indian Hills

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

This Will Be Interesting by E. B. Asher

Most people would be grateful to be brought back from the dead. And, while Galwell the Great's circumstances ARE fairly unique, he still feels like he should be grateful. He's trying very hard to be. But, for the rest of the world it's been ten years while for him it's the blink of an eye. His life just gets even weirder when an assasin tries to take him out.

River kills for the council. This one is weird, though. She's gotten instructions on who to kill but not why. And she always gets the why. She encounters Clara, a journalist who is also an old friend. Seeing her again is one of the reasons River decides to figure out what is going on. 

I had no idea how Asher was going to follow the first book. How do you deal withsomeone whose death united a nation, but now the man has returned. 

Four stars

This book comes out March 24, 2026

Follows This Will Be Fun

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyage, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig

Carol has been released from prison after several decades. She has been deposited in a retirement community that should be quiet, but a murder occurs soon after she arrives. As a confessed serial killer, she comes under suspicion pretty quickly. 

80-year-old Geoffrey, a former cop certainly points her out pretty quickly. He is joined in his investigation by Catherine, a retired pathologist, and Margaret who was a barrister, even home secretary for awhile. They don't think the police are moving fast enough so they'll take care of it themselves. 

Carol wants to prove her innocence even when it puts her at odds with the people in her home, but will they have to end up working together?

A lovely story that is more than fairly clued. It took me awhile to get into the story but was worth the read. 

Four stars

This book came out February 17, 2026

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano

The last book ended suddenly with Finlay's live-in nanny, best friend, and body-moving buddy, Vero, being arrested for stealing a large amount of cash from her sorority. Her loss is keenly felt, especially since her attorney has cut off communication to both Finlay and Vero's husband-ish-type-person, Javier. 

Finlay isn't okay with that and neither is Javi so they're going to go see Vero. And that turns into helping Vero and suddenly they're breaking her out of the house and tryin to figure out who actually stole the money. This leads them on another madcap adventure where they're again on the wrong side of the law, but Cosimano makes it seem so fun. 

Four stars

Finlay Donovan #6

Follows Finlay Donovan Digs her own Grave

ARC kindly provided by Minotaur Books and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

The Antique Hunter's Murder at the Castle by C.L. Miller

Bella, recently added to the Lockwood Antique Hunter's Agency, has gone off to track down some more faked antiquities. But is it a trap? Bella disappears and when Freya and Carole come up to see what is happening, they find a dead body.

The owner of the castle has been killed. Carole had met him before and was not impressed, especially in how he treated his daughter, India. Freya nad 

From there, the plot gets a little crazy and convoluted. I had to go back and reread the last couple of chapters to really try and get everything. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out March 17, 2026

Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder #3

Follows Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea

ARC kindly provided by Atria Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree

We met Fern in a previous book in the series. She's a ratkin bookshop owner. In this book, she's sold her old bookshop and has moved to be closer to her friend Viv, thinking that the move might help her fill the emptiness she's been feeling. And though it's good to be near her friend, she's still not feeling fulfilled. Trying to fill the emptiness, she overdrinks one night and decides that it's going to be a good idea to crawl into a cart. She wakes up well outside of town and discovers the cart belongs to Astryx, the one-eared elf also known as the Oathminder. She's taking a redhaired goblin to get a huge reward.

A lot of adventure in this book and some good character growth for Fern.

Four stars

Legends & Lattes #2

This book came out November 11, 2025

Follows Goblins & Greatcoats

Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells

Murderbot is still trying to stay under the radar. It would, in fact, prefer if people would forget it existed. But the investigation around GrayCris is still ongoing. Murderbot has decided to go to Milu to uncover what GrayCris was really doing there. Then, humans get on the same transport along with a robot that Murderbot gets to know. And when they're attacked, this SecUnit gets involved. 

Short but with a lot of action. 

Three and a half stars

The Murderbot Diaries #3

This book came out August 7, 2018

Follows Artificial Condition

Followed by Exit Strategy

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

Stephane Breitwieser is one of the most prolific art thieves of recent times (at least who has been found.) But he doesn't steal for money. Instead, he keeps all of the art for himself, to look at.

This book covers his early life as well as his meeting of Anne-Catherine, the woman who opens up his world. Previously, he had not really connected to anyone, but mainly to objects. And it is likely that love of objects that helps to spur on his urge to steal art. He doesn't steal for money, at least not before his jail stint, but for the love of the items. 

He is eventually caught though and, due to the vagaries of the law, is not jailed though he stole millions of dollars. But they are all non-violent so his time is not as long as one might expect. 

The author took some time in building this story, even getting to inteview Breitwieser. 

Four stars

This book came out June 22, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica and Stoker are itching for a new adventure. When Mornaday comes to them with the story of a man who read a note and then jumped out of a window. This story leads them to cemeteries, vampires, a cult, and a crossover.

This is a lovely addition to the series. Not much character development but lots of atmosphere and an interesting story. 

Four stars

This book comes out March 3, 2026

Veronica Speedwell #10

Follows 
A Grave Robbery

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

A satisfying end to a series about four women who work as bridal consultants.

Parker Brown is the organizer of the group. She books the weddings and plans the details. She is happy that her friends have found love but a little jealous as well. That doesn't mean she's going to jump into a relationship with Malcolm Kavanagh, just because he's part of the group. But that doesn't mean that she isn't attracted to him. He's not a part of the elegant world in which Parker grew up but he's a good man and fits in well with the group. Mal was a stuntman in Hollywood until an accident almost killed him. He took the money from the settlement and bought a mechanics shop which is how he met the rest of the gang. 

The two are seemingly opposites but they have enough in common to make a happily ever after.

Was a little leery about this one since the second book pissed me off so much but it ended up being okay.

Four stars

Bride Quartet #4

This book came out November 2, 2010

Follows Savor the Moment

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Murder in Postscript by Mary Winters

Amelia's first marriage was not a love match. Her husband knew he was dying and wanted someone to take care of his elderly aunt and niece, both of which Amelia is doing. The niece is much easier to love than the aunt who is ingrained in society and is always meddling to make sure that Amelia is the perfect widowed Countess. 

What the family doesn't know is that Amelia also writes an advice column, Lady Agony. It is that column that has her embroiled in the killings of a young girl (and she's only the first.) Luckily, she's just met her late husband's friend, Simon and he's willing to help out. 

A fun cozy mystery that Smexy Books did not oversell. 

Four stars

Lady of Letters #1

This book came out March 28, 2023

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

Thank god this book was better than the second one in this series. There was no tempting me to toss my iPod across the room. 

Laurel McBain has been in love with her best friend's brother for... forever. She has recently gotten fed up with her own dating moratorium and one late night plants a kiss on Del.

He has always thought of Laurel as a sister. At least, that's what's he's forced himself to think. But, recently, he's begun to notice that Laurel is really an attractive woman. 

I like that they have a frank discussion about their starting to date. The description of their group as a tribe is pretty cute.

Very fluffy but amusing. I'm not sure if this book was really that good or so much better in comparison.

Four stars

Bride Quartet #3

This book came out April 27, 2010

Follows Bed of Roses

Followed by Happy Ever AFter

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Beast Business by Ilona Andrews

The Book Devouring Horde (fans of Ilona Andrews) have been clamoring for an HEA for Augustine Montgomery. After all, he is not only a single man with a good fortune, he is the head of his family. He's been aware of Diana Harrison (the head of her own family), as the sister of one of the employees that the Baylors employ. When she comes to him for help finding an animal that was stolen from her family, he's willing to help. 

The story is less about the two falling in love than it is about kicking butt and taking names, but we do see them acknowledging that they are each other's HEA.

Four stars
Hidden Legacy #6.5

This book came out January 29, 2026

Follows Ruby Fever

Ebook of mine from Bookfunnel

Opinions are my own

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler

Davi and her team are back. They are trying to have the humans and the wilders join forces. To do that, she and Tsav have donned disguises. Davi isn't sure how she's going to convince her erstwhile lover (not in this time loop) to join her cause, but she knows him inside and out. Or does she?

This Prince Johann is not only married, he seems to be in love. And the running of the kingdom is being left up to Duke Aster who is... less than receptive to Davi's overtures. Even though she has the super-good plan of pretending to be the new oracle. 

Everything is in shambles and there are enemies not only surrounding her, but coming from inside the camp. And an ancient evil is rising once again. 

A fun story that lagged a little in parts but was overall an enjoyable read. 

Four stars

Dark Lord Davi #2

This book comes out May 27, 2025

Follows How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying

ARC kindly provided by Orbit Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz

Growing up as the ward of an evil lord, it's not like Violet could any way to be other than just evil. However, when Guy Shadowfade is killed, the hero gives Violet a chance to change her life. And she's trying. She's opening up a flower shop in the nearby town, starting to make friends. Then, the blight starts. Plants and crops are dying. Even worse, one of the other wizard's from Guy's parcel has returned to town, and he is hell-bent on... well, something nefarious. 

A cute story that moved along pretty quickly while still developing the characters. 

Four stars

This book came out November 18, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Strong Female Character by Fern Brady

Recent biographies I've led have seemed rather shallow. This, is not one of those. Brady lays out all of her stories and experiences in raw detail, most of it revolving around growing up as someone whose autism went undiagnosed until she was an adult. Even her own family just thought she was an asshole for awhile.

Of course, she grew up in a time when autism wasn't widely diagnosed, and even when it was, it was to a narrow band that she wasn't a part of. After all, as several doctors tell her, she has boyfriends! and can maintain eye contact! and isn't an "unattractive sea monster with no interest in forming meaning ful relationships." Instead, her quirks seem to have gotten her branded as a manic pixie dream girl. But her "quirks" include things like scratching her arms after people touch her and having episodes where she destroys rooms and furniture. Brady is also very up front about using people for housing, attacking someone with a bottle, and her life as a stripper. I wondered about the last as strippers are often touted as having good people skills (and she says several times she doesn't understand social nuance) but she talks about the fact that she was able to do the same routine every night in dim lights. 

There is quite a bit about her time in entertainment as well. I knew her from her season on Taskmaster where she was a bit chaotic but a lot of fun. She talks about that time as a dream job which makes sense because she was allowed, at times, to drop her masking completely.

Highly recommend the audiobook as Brady reads the story herself. 

Four stars

This book came out February 14, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Likeable Badass by Alison Fragale

Though women often talk about power and money, the author says to manage status first. The others will follow. The likeable badass will be the person who can walk the tightrope between warmth and power. Fragale recommends finding autheic, effective strategies to shape how your customers and coworkers see you. 

One strategy is to manage your status, to mold wahat others think of you. She talks about four quadrants that are made up of warm/cold on one side and assertive/submissive on another.  Women have ofthen been slotted as EITHER assertive or warm, which has lead many of us to believe those are our only options. However, Fragale defines "likeable badass" as being in the  warm/assertive quadrant. The more you show up as warm and assertive, the more value you are percieved to have. 

Interestingly, "powerless" speech (uncertainty) can be seen as "warmer", even though we are often told that we shouldn't self-deprecate or admit weakness. Other tools include humor, choosing the chair at the head of the table, helping others, being aware of verbal/nonverbal behaviors, and smiling. However, she notes several times that no one needs to do all of these things, find what works for you.

A little repetitive but I didn't actually notice until I started to pull together my notes which means that she was able to frame her examples in different enough ways to add the repetition needed to teach people without making it overbearing.

Four stars

This book came out September 3, 2024

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Stolen in Death by J. D. Robb

Nathan Barrister, by all accounts a pretty nice guy despite growing up with a wealthy, entitled father, is found dead, bludgeoned in his own home. Nearby, a door opens into a vault that no one in the family knew existed. It turns out Nathan's father bought a number of stolen art items and hid them in the house. No one knew about them. Well, someone knew about them because Nathan is dead and an expensive item is missing. According to the log they find in the room, there is only one item missing. An item that Roarke knows well...

Eve and her team need to solve the murder, try to recover the missing item, and finally deal with a foe who has been haunting her since early in the series.

Robb's books have a familiar cadence without being exactly duplicative. In this book, we don't know who the killer(s) are at first but get to know the players before the truth is finally revealed. 

Four stars

This book comes out September 2, 2025

In Death #61

Follows Framed in Death

Followed by Fury in Death

Ebook ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith Rossell

Magdalena "Maggie" Fishbone is being moved from one orphanage to another. She knocked a boy (who, to be fair, was bullying some younger children) off a dock into the water. And for that, she's being sent to the Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls. Luckily, all is not as it seems. Though the atmosphere is initially dreary, Maggie is somewhat heartened to meet two other new girls, Nell and Sofie. She is even more heartned to meet the director, Miss Mandelay. She has an eye patch and an aluminum leg and is more concerned that the girls learn useful skills than that they are "good."

I read about this on NPR's Best Books and it did not disappoint. 

Four stars

This book came out January 1, 2024

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own